Airbrushing - do you use a face mask?

[Guest]

Finally fired up the AB for my first time the other day - early days but it wasn't a disaster (!) which was a relief - quick Q though - do people tend to wear a mask when spraying and if so what type? Are the basic dust ones good enough or do I need to go more heavy duty?

I think I need to play around with the pressure I spray at because there was a cloud of paint every time I tried - surely that shouldn't happen? At that rate the home-made spray booth linked to elsewhere on here may have to be undertaken!!

[AlanG]

I have a JSP Maximask 2000 Twin Half Mask from B&Q (£30) with Organic gases and vapours filters with dust aerosol filter (EN141) on it.

[Guest]

If youre doing alot in a small enclosed area I would personally.

[Guest]

OK - cheers both - that JSP mask seems to be more like £15 from B&Q unless I'm looking at the wrong one - that seems perfectly reasonable! Cheers...

[Guest]

I do most of my spraying out in the garage and I use the basic disposable facemasks. If I was doing a lot of spraying indoors I'd get something a little more efficient

[AlanG]

OK - cheers both - that JSP mask seems to be more like £15 from B&Q unless I'm looking at the wrong one - that seems perfectly reasonable! Cheers...

there are two of them on their website with different filters fitted

[Ian M]

I use one almost the same as that, Allyne but made by Dräger who make professional breathing protection systems. It to has the double can filters and there are a choice of filters. I have active carbon for spray work and a pair of ordinary dust filters for sanding work. As I use mostly waterbased acrylics I only put it on when doing metalics as the particals in those go everywhere. Also when using Humbrol and Alclad of course.

Only bad thing is that you cant poke a hole in the half mask to shove a fag through like you can with the paper dust masks!!! LOL

I got it via work so other than that I got it cheap (yes I paid for it!!!) I cant recall what the price was!

Ian M

[Guest]

I use a 3M mask got from ebay. It's great - when you take it off, you realise how effective it was as you can smell the vapours left behind. A mask is vital if you're using stuff like Alclad, but I use one in all circumstances.

[Guest]

I use one to. Although I admit if it is a quick small job using acrylic, sometimes I don't put i on. No idea what make, I bought it ages ago from an airbrush supplier and has a single cartridge in the front.

[Guest]

I love the hole for the fag Ian. It reminds me of Barry Sheene drilling a hole in the front of his helmet so he could have a fag on the grid!

I have B&Q disposable masks but also do a lot of spraying outside when it's warm and calm and use an extractor hood when I have to spray indoors.

[stona]

Yes,it's made by Sealey and has one cartrdge on the front. I got mine via one of the companies that I work with as they have a spray booth and sprayer who sprays aluminium trusses and other structures. Whatever they use for that is horrible stuff! I think it was about 40 quid but I'm sure that I paid what they pay,hopefully a good deal.

It may sometimes feel like overkill,particularly when spraying acrylic paints which don't smell. The aerosol is still there though. Why gamble with your health for the price of a couple of kits?

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Cool, thanks for all the replies - looks like the sensible option is to "get a mask" then!

[Guest]

If you're tempted by the disposable paper masks, pick one up, and shake it, then try to visualise all that dust arriving on your model.

Edgar

[Guest]

flounder_al - got one of those £30 masks from B&Q and been using it today... What a difference, cheers for the recommendation, works great - and with the bonus of being able to do a great Darth Vader impression whilst wearing it. Not that I did, oh no no no...

[AFC]

Hi All,

would you advise any of these? I don't paint that much and thus would like something cheap...

Mask 1

Mask 2

and the cheapest one

Mask 3

Thanks

Cheers